Ag Doped Au44 Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to CO

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2022-08, Vol.28 (46), p.e202201262-n/a
• Main Authors: Tang, Shisi, Xu, Jiayu, Liu, Xu, Zhu, Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Catalysts; Chemical reduction; Chemistry; cluster; Clusters; CO2; Conversion; doping; Electrochemistry; Electron transport; Gold; Nanoclusters; reconstruction; Silver; structure
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201262

A novel Ag doped Au44(C10H9)28 nanocluster (C10H10=1‐ethynyl‐2,4‐dimethylbenzene) was synthesized, that is, Ag4+xAu40‐x(C10H9)28 (x≤6), where four Ag positions located in the surface staple of the cluster have been determined, while six Au/Ag co‐occupying positions have been found in the metal core of the cluster. The electronic configuration of Au44(C10H9)28 cluster is significantly disturbed by doping Ag atoms, hence promoting the electron transport capability. For the two‐electron conversion reaction of CO2 to CO in electrochemical reduction of CO2, Ag doped Ag4+xAu40‐x(C10H9)28 catalyst exhibited higher effective activity and long‐term stability than its counterpart Au44(C10H9)28 catalyst. A novel Ag doped Ag4+xAu40‐x(C10H9)28 (x≤6) cluster has been synthesized and the Ag doping positions can be precisely determined. The electrochemical reduction process of CO2 to CO can be promoted by Ag doping into Au cluster, due to the modulated electronic properties and structural reconstruction by Ag doping. The work provides an opportunity for understanding the heteroatom‐doping role in modulating the catalytic properties of metal clusters.